Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. has given the University of Wyoming Extension a $13,000 grant to convert a 2012 Ford F-150 pickup truck to a compressed natural gas (CNG) bi-fuel vehicle.

The truck will be owned by UW Extension and used by an associate director, who will drive the bi-fuel pickup largely along the Interstate 80 corridor in the western part of the state.

"The conversion will allow us to test and evaluate the possible cost savings and efficiencies for CNG-capable vehicles in our fleet," says Glen Whipple, director of UW Extension. "With CNG fueling stations either in service or planned throughout Wyoming in the near future, the time is right to put a CNG-capable vehicle in service."

For its part, Encana has plans to convert its entire Wyoming fleet to CNG over the next few years - almost 15% of that fleet has already made the switch. The company also opened a CNG station in Riverton, Wyo.